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A Roundabout is Coming to Jackson

Missouri Department of Transportation

The intersection of Route 61 and Main Street will soon be seeing improvements with the construction of a roundabout.

MoDOT Project manager Eric Krapf says while looking at ways to improve traffic flow in uptown Jackson, the Missouri Department of Transportation determined that constructing a roundabout in that area of town would be the best option.

“With the help of traffic engineers and modeling and our design staff here, we’ve determined that if we construct a roundabout there at the intersection of Main Street and highway 61 and we do some other improvements there on highway 61 around the square, we think we can build an improvement that’s going to help with traffic flow and be sustainable for a long time around the square.”

Krapf says the addition of a roundabout in this area of town will not only help traffic flow more smoothly but will also help minimize delays.

“The biggest concern we get is about delays during peak hours. There are a couple times a day, traffic is just really backed up, a lot of delays, and people have voiced concern over that and want that addressed. And so the improvements that we’re proposing will address that.”

The Missouri Department of Transportation is holding a public hearing to inform the public about the improvements to the area and give the public a chance to voice concerns and ask questions.

“Any time we have a project that has major impacts, we like to get out and involve the public. Just to make sure that we’ve heard from them and heard from the users and take into account all the issues they bring to the table as we develop our design and as we develop a solution that we think is right for the project.”

Krapf says during construction of this area people should expect to take alternate routes and MoDOT will keep the public updated on the construction of the area.

“There are probably going to be times as this roundabouts being constructed where Route 61 will be closed to traffic. And there will be alternate routes and detour routes that people will need to be taking around the square. We’ll be getting out to the public with news releases alerting motorists of when those traffic shifts will take place.”

Right of way acquisition will begin in late summer or early fall of this year with construction starting in the spring of 2016. According to Krapf, completion of the project is expected to be in the fall of 2016.

The public hearing will be held on April 9th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Missouri Room of Jackson’s City Hall.

MoDOT handout about the proposed roundabout.
 

Kayla Gafney was a student reporter for KRCU radio in 2015.
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